Shutout gives Delta Kings undisputed TCAL title

TRACY - When things go wrong and they still go right, the football gods are smiling at you. They were smiling at Stagg on Friday in a big way.

Dave Campbell

TRACY - When things go wrong and they still go right, the football gods are smiling at you. They were smiling at Stagg on Friday in a big way.

With time running out in the Tri-City Athletic League finale between the Delta Kings and host West, reserve Stagg running back Eric Kranh had his helmet knocked off, forcing him to leave the game for one play - and there would be just one play remaining.

Malik Griffin came in for Kranh and found himself bottled up at the line of scrimmage. He bounced to the outside and tiptoed up the Delta Kings sideline for a 41-yard touchdown run for a resounding 55-0 win and the undisputed TCAL championship at Steve Lopez Field.

Stagg (9-1, 5-0 TCAL) outgained the Wolf Pack (0-5, 1-9) 133 yards to 7 in the first quarter and led 42-0 at halftime, and nearly had 49 at the break, but a 40-yard pass on the final snap of the first half came up short of the goal line.

"I was pleased with the first half," Delta Kings coach Don Norton said.

"Our guys did a good job. They played hard and they played well tonight.

"We still have a few things to work on before we are ready for the playoffs next week."

Stagg lined up to punt once early in the second quarter but ran a fake that yielded 22 yards by Austin Camel for a first down.

Two plays later, Daniel Ruffin hauled in a 40-yard scoring pass from Wayne Brooks, his fourth of five touchdown throws, to make the score 35-0.

"I like the way we came out and got it over with," Brooks said. "And we got the 'W' to get ready for playoffs."